PHL to evacuate over 3,000 OFWs DND: Pinoy troops will also be repatrited from Liberia

THE Philippine Government is set to evacuate nearly 3,500 Filipino workers in three Ebola-hit states in Africa, the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

“We are preparing for the implementation of mandatory repatriation of Filipinos in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in view of the threat posed by Ebola virus disease,” DFA spokesman Charles Jose said in a statement.

Jose said there are 880 Filipinos in Guinea, 632 in Liberia, including 148 peacekeepers and 1,979 in Sierra Leone.

Earlier, a Filipino sailor, who was suspected to have contracted the deadly virus, tested negative for Ebola and was instead diagnosed with flu.

The World Health Organization has declared Ebola epidemic a global emergency after killing 1,350 this year, with most deaths in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

The government, meanwhile, said should the situation stabilize for the better at the Golan Heights and Liberia, it is amenable to the deployment of Filipino troops for peacekeeping purposes there.

This was revealed by Defense spokesman Dr. Peter Paul Reuben Galvez yesterday.

Defense department amenable to redeployment of PH contingents in Golan Heights and Liberia should situation stabilizes

“We are committed to our peacekeeping commitment (to the United Nations) but if the threat level is going beyond certain level, the Philippines can disengage,” he added.

Galvez said that the Philippines cannot be faulted for repatriating its troops, especially in the Golan Heights, as Japan, Croatia, and Austria, pulled their forces there in 2013 when the threat level went up.

Condition

“When shooting started in Syria, we told the United Nations we can stay there as long our troops are given adequate force protection equipment, like bullet-proofed vests and armored personnel carriers, to ensure their protection. However, the situation there now is that our forces there are getting frequently caught in the crossfires and sometimes, our vehicles are being hit by shrapnel from shells fired by the combatants. The situation is getting more volatile to the point that our soldiers could get killed there, and we can tell the UN that the situation is now beyond our threat level,” the spokesman said.

The Filipino contingents in Golan Heights and Liberia are scheduled to be pulled out before the end of the year.

“Amid the volatile security environment in the Middle East and North African region, the Philippines prioritizes the safety and security of its troops, but remains committed to the peacekeeping missions of the United Nations,” the DND said earlier.

Repatriation

The 331-strong Filipino contingent serving as part of the United Nations Disengagement Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights is scheduled to be repatriated at the end of their tour of duty in October.

Galvez said it is important to note that the Philippines sustained its contingent in UNDOF amidst the withdrawal of other troop-contributing countries as the conflict in Syria intensified in 2013.

“Meanwhile, in light of the rising health risk posed by the outbreak of Ebola virus in Africa, the Filipino troops deployed to the UN Mission in Liberia will also be repatriated as soon as possible,” he said.